This is your chance to ask any questions you may have that you want me to answer! I will try to answer whatever you may ask, and if I don’t have an answer, I’ll at least do my best to point you in the right direction. I’d love to answer your beauty-related questions, but I will take non-beauty questions, too. As always, if you have a question you’d like to ask that’s private, just drop me an email!
So, not sure whether you should get Rollickin’ paint pot when you already have Aquadisiac eyeshadow? Need to know where to buy a product? Ask anything, and ask away! (And feel free to chime in with answers to other readers’ questions–the more the merrier!)
(I will periodically do posts like these where I will take as many questions as I get to answer.)
hey, i wanna ask sth abt face makeup..usually when i apply my makeup in the morning my face looked totally fresh and shine free..but towards the afternoon the colour will start to get darker and shiny..but the thing is i did all my cleasing and moisturizing and primer to hydrate my face but this problem still persist..is it because i’m doing the wrong thing or i used too much loose powder? hope u can help mi on this! thanx!
Hi April - I had this same problem until I found out a couple of things. I went to a MAC class on Friday taught by one of the senior artists and she told me that when you have oily skin, your foundation and loose powders will get darker after some time. I bought a lighter shade of foundation and loose powder than I was previously using and have used it the last couple of days. Voila! The shade becomes exactly the color of my skin and I don’t have the problem of it getting darker anymore.
The other awesome product I’ve discovered is MAC’s Matte. It’s a product that you use instead of primer, per the senior artist, and your oiliness will stop. I absolutely love it and it really does work!
Wow, thanks for this info!!!!
hey thanx alot for ur help! i’ll try the product next time!
It’s probably your skin reacting to the foundation throughout the day (e.g. oil build-up). You might need to switch to a slightly lighter color so that it doesn’t get too dark by the end of the day!
a makeup artist tried studio fluid fix in nw15 on me (lightest they have) and it looked ok at first, but started to turn dark. she mentioned that the studio fix tends to oxidize darker than some other foundations…we took that off and tried select spf 15 and it didn’t get dark at all that i noticed. maybe it’s just the formula you happen to be using…
hi
i’m looking for an eyeshadow, preferably a creamy one, that would give my eyelids a sort of glowing sheen, as opposed to sparkle. would bare study paint pot be suitable? or perhaps pearl ccb?
thanks
like pearly as opposed to shimmery.
You could try frostlite fluidline.. Depending how dark you are, I just use a brush or my finger to apply it all over my lid. If you rub it in it makes a nice somewhat shimmery, glow. It’s nice but I’d suggest trying it on your hand in store first if you’re not sure :)
I think Bare Study pp is great, but what´s even better in my opinion is Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Tattle Tale (white gold) or My Date´s my Brother (soft light pink), they have a pearly effect rather than shimmer where you can see individual particles of shine. Also they have amazing staying power. I´m a MAC girl through and through but with those I make an exception ;)
I totally agree about the Benefit Creaseless Cream shadows. Also, they make fabulous eyeliners :) I use Skinny Jeans and Stiletto almost daily!
Bare Canvas in the tube is pearlescent and more opaque (and less shimmery) than bare study. i got it on friday and i love it. Apparently they are discontinuing??? :-(
I think Pearl or Shell CCB will give you a glowing sheen.. but they are creamy white/off whites, so if you’re NC25+, you’ll notice a white-tint, too.
If you just want a glowy look, and not an especially light color, rubenesque is a beautiful paint pot, with a peachy-gold sheen. There’s also a Loreal HIP paint that’s a light color and more pearlish than shimmery–a really nice color, although the MAC ones have a nicer texture.
I recommend the new Clinique Quick Eyes cream shadows for this kind of look. Very pearly, not sparkly, and pretty long-lasting!
Hi, have read you blog for a long time(it really is a great blog!), but this is the first time I’m commenting. Have tried posting this question in different forums before but never recieved an answer, so I hope you can help me.
I love the colour of MACs Sweet William, but not the fact that it is a creme blush, as they tend to clog my pores. Therefore I’d like a similar powder blush, any suggestions?
Thanks
Hi Cecilia!
There’s nothing TOO close in powder blush form - I would say Pinch Me might get you close… You could try Joyous from the beauty powder blushes, which is LE, but more like Sweet William.
Ok, I’ll check those two out. Thanks for the recommendations!
Hey, I know you’re a student, (and I hope this isn’t too personal), but how can you afford all of the fabulous MAC and other more expensive make-up products that you use? Whenever I seem to go to the MAC counter I walk away with two or three things and am $100 lighter, haha.
And the TIME, where do you find the time? Your genius with makeup, was JUST telling my bf about you this morning, and how dedicated and helpful you are. I wish i had your time management skills. Thanks again!! :-)
P.s. I walk away deeper into credit, until the End of the Month rolls by… hehe
I think I live in another dimension of time :)
My routine is very simple…
7am - wake up, let dog out; walk dog, feed dog
8am - check e-mail, answer PR, browse blog feedback [this does not mean answer]
9am - shower, get ready
9:30am - work on blog posts and/or answer feedback
noon - lunch & get ready for class
1-4pm - class
4:30pm - relax, play with dog, walk dog, feed dog
5:30pm - dinner, relax, watch tv
7pm - check email, prepare blog posts
9pm - relax, go to bed
I usually spend Sundays doing the schoolwork reading for the week. I also set side 3-4 hours every few days to answer comments left on the blog (on Saturday, I somehow accumulated approximately 500 comments to respond to, so that was a busy morning!).
I take out a $55,000 student loan that covers both tuition and living expenses–which does include some “fun money.” I get approximately $2,000 to live off of per month, and since I share my apartment with my boyfriend, it does help with giving me more fun money since we split rent (if I lived alone, I’d be scraping pennies together!).
(BTW, law school only allows you to work up to 10 hours per week, and they DO NOT advise it–in fact, they recommend you do not and make you feel ashamed if you do.)
Hi!
I love your blog! I was wondering about the Clinique Quick Eyes cream e/s you reviewed. Do you still like them? I haven`t seen these IRL, but they sure look pretty! I already use a base (UDPP) with my e/s, but I`m looking for something I can use on top of UDPP with loose pigment shadows. Do you think they will work for this purpose, or are they more of a “stand-alone”-product? MAC Paint Pots didn`t work for me, sadly:-(
Ooh I want to know about these too! Christine, how sheer are they? Would they be an okay base?
I used them as bases actually!
I still like them, my opinion of them hasn’t changed!
I’m not sure how well they’ll work on TOP of UDPP - I haven’t tried it (and don’t own UDPP to try it). If you can use other cream products over UDPP with no problems, then they should work well :)
I think they’re great alone, but I use them as a base, too.
have you ever traveled by plane with your MAC pro palette? im going on vacation in 3 days and i don’t know if i should bring it (with all the rules i don’t know if they’d throw it out)but i don’t want to check it on, i want to bring it with me. have you ever done that?
Hope you don’t mind, but speaking up here since I’ve traveled a lot since the increased security restrictions were placed on carry-on luggage.
Regarding airport checkin… any lotions, toothpastes, mascara, etc that’s going onto the pane, must be under 3 ounces and all these items must go into 1 clear quart sized baggie if they aren’t getting checked. Your pro palette, being non-liquid, is a non-issue. =)
I travel with makeup a lot and I always put it in my carry-on. I pack a change of clothes in the bottom of my carry on bag and on top of that, I put my toothbrush, hairbrush, anti-perspirant (solid! if yours is gel, put it in your baggie), and makeup bag with makeup brushes & non liquid makeup items. Then I toss in my “keep myself occupied while flying” items and my 1 quart clear baggy of liquid stuff on top since they want that to be out of your carry on bag for inspection when you go through security and it’s much easier if it’s not lost way down in the bottom of your bag.
I usually put sample sized face and hand moisturizer, trial-sized toothpaste, mascara, travel sized hand sanitizer, liquid foundation and my lip glosses into the clear plastic bag.
Hope you have a great trip!
I’ve stopped putting mascara and glosses in my clear bag and they never ever stop me or notice. I usually don’t do it just because it doesn’t fit between all my skincare and hair stuff, toothpaste, etc. (I swear I don’t have that much, but between shampoo, conditioner, day and night moisturizers, cleanser, etc., it adds up!) I’m sure they’d notice something obvious, but they haven’t yet spotted my mascara or glosses. If you have room in your quart bag, definitely put them in there, but if you’re lacking you can probably squeak by.
Yeah, I don’t bring my shampoo or cleanser stuff on board with me. If that gets lost, it wouldn’t bother me. My makeup, on the other hand, I’d freak out about. ;)
You can get away with it, but I wouldn’t bank on it, especially if you have high end stuff! I’ve gotten stopped a few times when I’ve forgotten to throw in certain items, actually :(
Hi Alexa,
Your PRO palette will not be subject to any rules as the rules only apply to liquids - like your mascaras, lipglosses, liquid foundations, etc.
What is the best mark/range for foundations or concealers? Currently I’m using a L’Oreal foundation, which I can live with, but seems to slide off in a few hours. Suggestions? :)
(Love your make-up tutorials, by the way.)
If you’re looking for a drugstore brand, I like Neutrogena’s a lot.
Try Revlon Colorstay. Lasted all day (9 hours is all day for me) and has a matte finish.
Yup try revlon colorstay foundation! For a lighter coverage mix with moisturizer.
Hey Stargirl!
Have you tried using primer beforehand or setting with powder? I find both of these things keep foundation on longer. Most foundations will last between 6-8 hours, some lasting longer depending on your skin type. Oilier skin will be more susceptible to the “slide effect.”
You might want to try Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse - I’ve heard good things, and I liked the texture and feel when I tried it (I couldn’t try it on my face since it was the wrong shade).
I have two questions:
1. When using the Back to MAC program at a department store, they only allow you to get a lipstick. I know you can’t get Viva Glam lipsticks, but are other lipstiks like Heatherette and Slimshines free?
2. What is the proper etiquette for asking for a sample?
Can you get slimshines and limited edition lipsticks with back to mac?
What’s the proper etiquette when asking for a sample?
Hi, I love your blog and all the great advice/reviews you give! I’ve only dabbled in MAC cosmetics, and I’m hoping to expand a little more, but there’s just so much to choose from!
I don’t own any MAC Pigment, and I was wondering what exactly made them different (besides the really big container!). There are a couple of eyeshadow colours (black, beige-gold, copper) that I would love to have bigger containers of because I use them so quickly. Is buying a pigment just like buying a bigger container of shadow? Is it more like a paint pot? I’ve always been worried that it’ll smudge and smear much more than the other shadows/paint pots do.
Also, I use a Paint Pot in Blackground for an everyday eyeliner - should I switch to Fluidline? I’ve always been worried that mistakes will be too obvious if I do, but I’ve always wanted something a little darker than Blackground. Also, in terms of black shadows, does Carbon have good staying power? I usually just buy cheaper drugstore shadows, but they tend to disappear by the end of the day.
Okay, I promise this is the last part - I asked about this in a different question a little while back but do you have a lot of prolongwears? I love the idea of them, and I was contemplating getting one, but I read some poor reviews on Makeup Alley and so for now it’s just been basic lipsticks/glosses. Should I try one?
Thanks for your help!
Pigments can go on more sheer, or more pigmented, depending how you apply them. If you apply it wet (with water or mixing medium) their colour pay-off is much more intense than any eyeshadow, and they’ll last longer: especially with a good base under them.
Blacktrack fluidline goes on soooo nicely and it’s very black. I completely recommend it. I’ve never tried blackground as a liner so I can’t compare but if you want a truer black blacktrack fl is definitely it.
And as far as I know Carbon has good staying power, but the most important thing to keep eyeshadows in place is a good base! My favourite bases are MAC’s paints. Depending on your skin tone, Bare Canvas is AMAZING! They’re guaranteed to stay in place for 8 (it may even be 12) hours!! No creasing and the eyeshadows last soo much longer! It’s just a matte beigey-skin toned colour that’s awesome. There’s also Stilife but it’s very shimmery if you apply too much! Even if I want to use a paint pot as a base, I will put Bare Canvas UNDER that!
Sorry, here’s my 2 cents, just that i bought 2 of these products on friday! LOL!
Carbon: so far i love it! (It goes *slightly* bluish on me, but very nice) I also just got bare canvas paint, and applied it over that (AND - very bad i know - I slept in my makeup, but it survived the night!)
ALSO bought ProLongwear, and its the first ‘lipstick’ i own, i always wore glosses. I am absolutely HOOKED!
I can go out and EAT and not have to leave the table to check that my lips have gone all red. ( I like my lips pale, and sit and obsess about them until i can make sure they are right, lol!)
This stuff is a gift from above, honestly, wish id known about it all along.
Ok, ive been using it 3 days, and havent noticed any drying problems, but I moisturise ALL the time and use XXL Lip injection at night.
1) They’re loose and can be used in multiple places (eyes, face, cheeks, lips, etc.). PRO pigments tend to come with precautions so they may not be used everywhere (but usually there is an insert that tells you this when you buy). It’s more like buying a crushed up eyeshadow, but it’s not like a paint pot at all.
2) You can use Blackground as a liner, that’s fine. Blacktrack is darker, but I think you’ll be fine. Carbon has good staying power, but ultimately it’s about what base you use rather than just the shadows!
3) I have 10-15, I would say. I don’t wear them that often (because I have so many other things to wear, lol), but when I go to on vacation with the boy, I often opt for these so we can still get our kiss on ;) (By this, I don’t mean omg, makeout, I just mean pecks here and there). You have to have patience AND practice - plus keep your lips in good condition.
I have a question about skin tone. I am still a novice with this makeup thing but how do I know what colors are right for my African American skin?
thanks in advance!
-Lish
If possible I suggest going to a MAC store and getting them to try different foundations on you!
And make sure you look at all foundations in natural light. Super important!
Thanks Julia and Shefali for your advice…we cant go outside looking like a clown right ladies?!?…but what about eye shadows?? i love golds and purples
Depending on what you’re OK or comfortable with wearing I think bright colours look really nice on darker skin tones! Look at this for example… http://www.temptalia.com/guest-look-kris-shares-a-carnival-look-thats-bright-teal
It is a little over the top for everyday wear but I think it’s beautiful!!
I also love golds and purples… Trax, Stars & Rockets, and Parfait Amour are my favourite purples… And golds would be amazing on your skin, I bet. My favourites are Goldmine, Gorgeous gold (kind of greeny), and even Retrospeck!! Good luck finding the right shades!
I totally agree with Julie, African American women can rock almost anything and you look fabulous, I’m totally envious :). I’ve noticed jewel tones looks really amazing on darker skin tones. I think you can stay away from most of the tawnies, I’m not sure they’d be very beneficial for you. Soft pinks are often good for everyday and look gorgeous. Ultimately, just do what makes you feel beautiful, that’s the most important part!
Julie: I was looking at stars-n-rockets…its on my wish list lol. But i am going to search for some of the colors that you suggested it they sound pretty.
K: your right about Jewel tones because I have a sample from sephora of this brillant green from the shiseido brand and I love it!!!!…I just tried a look using UD’s Last call and I LOVE IT!..
Thankyou ladies for your suggestions…now the question is do u want to fund the project?? lol jk…THANKS!!!!
just an idea…try google pictures and look up famous African American women (models and celebs) to see what types of colors they tend to wear and look the best in. Thats what I have done in the past when I changed hair colors in drastic ways - red to black, black to blond etc etc. Just a suggestion :)
That is a good idea. thanks!!!
Hi Lish,
You need to have a good base, because your skin is darker and it’ll absorb color without a good base. Something like Soft Ochre paint pot or UDPP is essential.
I think golds, light pinks, berries, and greens will go well with your skintone for sure, but I’m a firm believer in that anyone can wear any color they want.
you guys are so helpful!!!! i love our little family lol. Christine im loving that pro-choice attitude towards the eyeshadow colors lol.
Aww :D I love our little (little? I think it’s getting big!) family, too!
I was just wondering as at 17 year old with dry sensitive skin(no breakouts but flaky and prone to redness) what steps do i need in my skincare routine in the morning and the evening?
Everyone needs…
AM: light cleanser (ideally you’ve already removed 100% of your makeup the night before), moisturizer (use a heavier one for dry skin), sunscreen
PM: deeper cleanser, moisturizer
You can add products like anti-aging creams, eye creams, toners, etc. depending on what you want from your skincare regimen. If the redness is caused by dry skin, more frequent and better moisturizing will eradicate it, otherwise you may want to look into Clinique’s Even Better skin treatment.
Hello Christine. I’ve really been commenting a lot more than normal lately! But, I actually have two questions that I’m interested in, though one isn’t makeup-specific and is really just a general question.
1. I was wondering what your opinion on teeth was. For a person’s smile, say, do you think that their teeth would be more attractive if they were straight or white? Like, what if they were the tiniest bit crooked, but also very white? I’m debating getting braces. Everybody’s fighting with me about it though because they want me to keep my Kirsten Dunst smile. I’m also not sure if it would be fun to go through my college years with braces. I like to remain as natural as possible.
2. Also, in some of your looks, is it possible to replicate them without having to use so many products/colors? I have to cut down my spending!
hi ya Sarah,
I really wanted to comment on your teeth question :) I did not grow in the US and I remember when I first moved over here and I saw so many people wearing braces…I was amazed!! Now, I see adult women wearing braces…women in their 40s and I just think to myself, WHY? I think as long as your teeth are nice and white, which is really what people notice that you should leave your teeth the way they are. There are many women who are famous who dont have perfect teeth…they do however have very white teeth. It seems like Americans are really the only people who are soooo overly obsessed with perfectly straight teeth…to the point that teeth end up looking freaky and almost “fake”.
Also adults have to wear their braces much longer than if it had been done as a child. I say embrace your less than perfect teeth, spend some extra cash and have them whitened…then just learn to love them for all their imperfect glory!! :)
Thank you so much for this response, Tanya! Encouraging words are always nice. I have definitely noticed that straight teeth is more or less an American trend, so I’m glad to see that it’s confirmed.
Another worry I was having, and why I was going back and forth, is because braces are very expensive for a poor bum like me! Whitening is definitely less costly in the long-run and I think that getting it done with the ‘zoom’ or whatever would be good. I’ve heard some troubling things about crippling head pain after zoom, however.
I’ve had zoom whitening and it is the worrrrrrrst pain after.. I breathed in and I think they called it a zinger but I thought I was going to pass out my teeth hurt so bad. My teeth were already kinda white and I think they got too white. Its been 2 years and I still think in some pics my teeth look to white. Also, I think the whiter they are the more you can tell they need straightened ever since I got the zoom whitening I’ve noticed that one tooth isn’t so straight and I never realized that before.. now I’m thinking about getting invisalign.
to be honest with you teeth are very important according to every guy i’ve ever been with…they make a big difference in your appearance…i would straighten them
Well I am glad that neither Madonna or Lauren Hutton ever dated any of the same men that Sandra dated…oh and what about? Sandra Bernhard, Nicole Kidman, Bai Ling, Kristen Dunst, Helena Bonam Carter, Amy Whinehouse and thats just the women that my man and I could think of…none of them are ugly…well Amy is kinda skanky but not because of her teeth :) I have never had an issue with men finding me less attractive because of my teeth…and I use to model!! and I am sure that neither have any of these famous women. I really think that less than perfect teeth is so trivial…who really wants to look like some freaky Hollywood white picket fence tooth monster…those people are freaky with their orange tans and white teeth that glow in the dark.
hehehe I did not mean for my reply to sound quite so snarky…my man and I just got into a long talk about teeth and it moved me to respond…after I read what I had put I realized it sounded kinda snarky and I did not mean for it to come across like that :)
my 2-cents are … don’t date the guys who are so fixated abt the teeth. so superficial!
i have 3 front teeth and people don’t notice it till i point it out. i’ve had no problems with boys/ men either. i go on a second date with the ones who find it quirky :)
I was fortunate enough to inherit my mom’s straight, perfect teeth. I definitely notice people’s teeth when I first meet them.. but I wouldn’t NOT date them because of that! My boyfriend was an adventurous child and managed to get pierced under the chin to the roof of his mouth with a pole! *SHUDDER* His bottom front teeth grew in awkwardly, but that’s it! He wants braces because he’s so self-conscious of them, but I think it’s cute, LOL!
I really think perfectly straight teeth are over-rated. Slightly crooked teeth add something different to your persona - imagine if all of us had straight teeth - we’d look like clones!
Secondly, too uch whitening will definitely wear down the enamel, so that is not advisable either! You know the best way to keep teeth the normal colour without having to use chemicals? Simply gargle your mouth after every meal, and especially after ingesting foods/drinks that stain your teeth (like tea, coffee, and the worst offender - soda based drinks aka fizzy drinks). Seriously - cut these out from your diet and you control both staining of teeth, as well as your weight, as a side effect :) If you still feel your teeth are discoloured, then here’s an easy home remedy - mis a pinch of baking soda and lemon juice and brush you teeth with this mixture quickly. Dont let the soda fizz out. Do this not more than 2 times a week and you should have normal coloured teeth soon.
Wow, thanks for these tips! This is really helpful and I’ll be sure to use some of them. I do worry about wearing down my enamel, so it’s good to hear some alternatives. And I usually like DIY treatments for your skin and body anyway. That way you know exactly what you’re putting on yourself.
I definitely agree with these ladies, you do not need perfectly straight teeth. American women all aspire to an ideal of beauty that is simply not possible, and if it were we’d all look the same! I’m sure your teeth are beautiful and give a fun quirk to your appearance. My parents actually had a bunch of my teeth pulled when I was a kid so that my teeth would come in straight. They’re pretty straight, but I have a huge overbite, not something I think needs to be corrected.
Also as to whitening, I think people are wayyy too obsessed with this! I’m not suggesting your teeth should be smoker-yellow or something, but teeth aren’t supposed to be truly white and I find them distracting and fake when they are. If you drink lots of coffee/soda or smoke and they’re stained, some whitening might be good, but don’t forget the episode of Friends where Ross gets his teeth whitened and freaks out the women he’s dating–don’t go for pure white, they’re not supposed to be that way!
Hi Sarah!
Here’s my thing… you have to do what makes you feel good about yourself. I wore braces for nearly 10 years. I don’t even know how bad my teeth would have been without them (they expected my teeth to fall out very quickly, but no, I was a slow tooth loser). If they aren’t very crooked, I probably wouldn’t get braces. If you think your teeth are fine, there’s no reason to get braces if it’s a healthy mouth.
You can definitely replicate them - you should be able to see the basic colors and go from there. When you own palettes, it’s easy to get carried away.
If you really want braces and don’t want to deal with them showing, you can get lingual braces (they go behind the teeth). They’re a bit more expensive but if you care about the straightness of your teeth and have extra cash, why not? I’ve had mine for 4 months or so and they’re not too horrid. :x
I was wondering if you had any recommendations for a water based mixing medium (I believe that is the correct term). I know that some shadows can be used wet (more intense color) or dry. I want to try it using the “wet” option but I think I read somewhere that you dont want to use plain water. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and still loving the site!
You can make your own mixing medium using 1 part glycerine and 3 parts water. You should be able to find glycerine at a drug store, and it’s really cheap!
AWESOME! Thanks!
Where do you find it at the drugstore? I’ve looked a few times and never seen glycerine.
I just bought some yesterday at a CVS and it was located with the Aveeno lotion products and other similar items. It comes in a small brown bottle and cost me $3.49. I hope this helps!
It’s in the first aid section.
At Walmart glycerine is in the first aid aisle.
Thanks guys! I’ll check it out.
I find mine in the first aid aisle!
I use 1 part glycerin, 3 parts water, personally…
I don’t use my eyeshadows wet, because it can leave a wet spot behind, so I can’t help you on that! You can use just water though, I think that would be fine.